Sixth Committee (Legal) — 79th session
The rule of law at the national and international levels (Agenda item 84)
- Authority: resolution 78/112
- List of speakers
Documentation
- A/79/117 — Report of the Secretary-General: Strengthening and coordinating United Nations rule of law activities
- A/C.6/79/L.11 — Draft resolution
Summary of work
Background (source: A/79/100)
The item entitled “The rule of law at the national and international levels” was included in the agenda of the sixty-first session of the General Assembly at the request of Liechtenstein and Mexico (A/61/142). The Assembly has had the item on its agenda since its sixty-first session (resolutions 61/39, 62/70, 63/128, 64/116, 65/32, 66/102, 67/1 (declaration of the high-level meeting of the General Assembly on the rule of law at the national and international levels), 67/97, 68/116, 69/123, 70/118, 71/148, 72/119, 73/207, 74/191, 75/141, 76/117, 77/110 and 78/112).
At its seventy-eighth session, the Assembly allocated the item to the Sixth Committee, where statements in the debate were made by the Deputy Secretary-General of the United Nations and by 93 delegations (see A/C.6/78/SR.15–19). The Assembly requested the Secretary-General to submit, in a timely manner, his next annual report on United Nations rule of law activities, in accordance with paragraph 5 of its resolution 63/128, addressing, in a balanced manner, the national and international dimensions of the rule of law, and invited Member States to focus their comments during the upcoming Sixth Committee debate on the subtopic “The full, equal and equitable participation at all levels in the international legal system” (resolution 78/112).
Consideration at the seventy-ninth session
The Sixth Committee considered the item at its 15th, 16th, 17th, 18th, 19th and 38th meetings, on 16, 17 and 18 October and on 22 November 2024 (see A/C.6/79/SR.15, 16, 17, 18, 19 and 38).
At the 17th meeting, on 17 October 2024, the Deputy Secretary-General of the United Nations made a statement.
Statements were made by the representatives of Islamic Republic of Iran (on behalf of the Non-Aligned Movement), Uganda (on behalf of the African Group), Austria (on behalf of 51 members of the Group of Friends of the Rule of Law), the European Union (also on behalf of its member States (the candidate countries Montenegro, Serbia, Albania, Ukraine, the Republic of Moldova, Bosnia and Herzegovina and Georgia, as well as San Marino aligned themselves with this statement)), the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela (on behalf of the Group of Friends in Defense of the Charter of the United Nations), Mauritania (on behalf of the Group of Arab States), Singapore (on behalf of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN)), Qatar (on behalf of Gulf Cooperation Council), New Zealand (on behalf of Canada, Australia and New Zealand (CANZ)), Latvia (on behalf of Estonia, Lithuania, Latvia), Brazil, Slovenia, Rwanda, Poland, Oman, Belarus, Romania, South Africa, Singapore, Guatemala, Iraq, Japan, the Philippines, Sierra Leone, the United States of America, Honduras, Indonesia, Switzerland, Cuba, Thailand, El Salvador, the Russian Federation and Eritrea, the observer of the Observer State of Palestine and the representatives of Jordan, Mexico, Kenya, Nepal, Nicaragua, Sri Lanka, Türkiye, Georgia, Liechtenstein, Saudi Arabia, Nigeria, the United Arab Emirates, Cameroon, Burkina Faso, the Islamic Republic of Iran, the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, Colombia, Senegal, Uganda, Morocco, Malaysia, Ghana, India, Côte d’Ivoire, Sudan, Israel, Brunei Darussalam, Togo, Uruguay, Viet Nam, Maldives, Argentina, the Lao People’s Democratic Republic, Bulgaria, China, Ethiopia, the Republic of Moldova, Costa Rica, Timor-Leste, Pakistan, Kuwait, the Syrian Arab Republic, Ecuador, Congo, the Republic of Korea, Myanmar, Paraguay, Mozambique, Guinea, Algeria, Lebanon, Tunisia, Cabo Verde, Haiti and the United Republic of Tanzania.
Statements were also made by the observers for the International Development Law Organization and the European Public Law Organization.
The representatives of China and the Russian Federation, the observer of the Observer State of Palestine and the representatives of Iraq, the Islamic Republic of Iran and the Philippines spoke in the exercise of the right of reply.
Delegations generally thanked the Secretary-General for his report on “Strengthening and Coordinating the United Nations Rule of Law Activities” (A/79/117), stressing efforts to uphold the rule of law at the national and international levels and expressing concern on the erosion of the rule of law globally, as highlighted in the report. While some delegations expressed support for the implementation of the Secretary-General’s New Vision for the Rule of Law, underscoring its people-centered, gender-sensitive, and forward-looking approach, others reiterated that the report should cover the national and international dimensions of the rule of law in equal proportions. Some delegations raised the concern that certain points addressed in the report were not directly relevant to the rule of law and requested that future reports on the agenda item be presented in a more objective, neutral, and balanced manner.
Delegations emphasized the fundamental role of the rule of law in upholding international peace and security and advancing the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, particularly SDG 16 and access to justice for all. A number of delegations underscored the importance of strengthening legal frameworks, promoting good governance, and ensuring access to justice for all, especially vulnerable groups such as women, children, and persons with disabilities.
The principle of sovereign equality was highlighted as a cornerstone of the international legal system. Several delegations stressed the need for the promotion of the rule of law in accordance with the purposes and principles of the Charter, including respect for the sovereign equality and territorial integrity of States as well as the right to self-determination, refraining from the threat or use of force, non-interference in domestic affairs and respect for the peaceful settlement of disputes. The need to promote and respect international law, including human rights and humanitarian law rules was also emphasized. A call was made for increased accountability at the national and international levels for serious crimes committed under international law. Several delegations further highlighted the importance of international cooperation and multilateralism in advancing the rule of law at the international level.
With respect to the 2024 subtopic, “The full, equal and equitable participation at all levels in the international legal system”, several delegations noted that ensuring equal participation in international law making processes is essential for fostering trust, legitimacy, and effectiveness in the international legal order and in international institutions. The unique challenges in accessing international legal mechanisms by Small Island Developing States (SIDS) and least developed countries (LDCs) was highlighted, and capacity-building and technical assistance were called to bridge these gaps.
Many delegations emphasized the role of women and marginalized groups in promoting the rule of law. They commended the United Nations’ efforts to enhance gender equality in legal systems and encouraged greater representation of women in international judicial bodies and decision-making processes.
Some delegations highlighted efforts made in promoting gender equality and providing security and justice for women and girls and further underlined the importance of ending all forms of sexual and gender-based violence and discrimination. Several delegations expressed concerns over corruption and emphasized the need to develop strategies to combat it, with some sharing their respective anti-corruption initiatives at the national level.
Many delegations addressed the pressing need to adapt the rule of law to contemporary global challenges such as climate change, cybersecurity, and the regulation of artificial intelligence. Support was expressed for international legal frameworks that ensure accountability and equitable solutions to these issues.
Delegations reaffirmed their support for the International Court of Justice and the International Criminal Court as key institutions for upholding international law. Many called for respect for the binding decisions of the ICJ and encouraged states to accept its compulsory jurisdiction. Several delegations further expressed their support for the International Criminal Court and encouraged Member States to become parties to the Rome Statute.
Delegations also highlighted the role of international treaties, considering their observance as central in maintaining good relations among States and in upholding the rule of law at the international level.
Several delegations acknowledged the significant contributions of the International Law Commission to the codification and progressive development of international law. Some delegations also expressed their appreciation of the Programme of Assistance in the Teaching, Study, Dissemination and Wider Appreciation of International Law.
Archived videos and summaries of plenary meetings
15th meeting (16 October 2024, 3:00pm – 6:00pm) | Summary
16th meeting (17 October 2024, 10:00am – 1:00pm) | Summary
17th meeting (17 October 2024, 3:00pm – 6:00pm) | Summary
18th meeting (18 October 2024, 10:00am – 1:00pm) | Summary
19th meeting (18 October 2024, 3:00pm – 3:30pm) | Summary
38th meeting (22 November 2024, 10:00am – 1:00pm) | Summary
Action taken by the Sixth Committee
At the 38th meeting, on 22 November 2024, the representative of Mexico, on behalf of the Bureau, introduced the draft resolution entitled “The rule of law at the national and international levels” (A/C.6/79/L.11).
At the same meeting the Committee adopted draft resolution A/C.6/79/L.11 without a vote. The representatives of the Syrian Arab Republic, Argentina and the Philippines spoke in explanation of position after the adoption of the draft resolution.
The draft resolution calls on the General Assembly to recall the 2012 high-level meeting of the General Assembly on the rule of law at the national and international levels, to take note of the report of the Secretary-General submitted pursuant to paragraph 41 of the declaration adopted at that meeting, and requests the Sixth Committee to continue its consideration of ways and means of further developing the linkages between the rule of law and the three pillars of the United Nations. The resolution also reaffirms the imperative of upholding and promoting the rule of law at the international level in accordance with the principles of the Charter of the United Nations and in this regard recalls the importance of the Declaration on Principles of International Law concerning Friendly Relations and Co-operation among States in accordance with the Charter of the United Nations. The resolution further calls upon the Secretary-General and the United Nations system to systematically address, as appropriate, aspects of the rule of law in relevant activities, including the participation of women in rule of law-related activities and requests the Secretary-General to submit, in a timely manner, his next annual report on United Nations rule of law activities, in accordance with paragraph 5 of its resolution 63/128 of 11 December 2008, addressing, in a balanced manner, the national and international dimensions of the rule of law. The draft resolution further calls upon the General Assembly to include in the provisional agenda of its eightieth session the item entitled “The rule of law at the national and international levels” and invites Member States to focus their comments during the upcoming Sixth Committee debate on the subtopic “The rule of law at the national and international levels at the eightieth anniversary of the United Nations”.
Subsequent action taken by the General Assembly
This agenda item will be considered at the eightieth session (2025).
